Pivoted vent type window and operating mechanism therefor



March 14, 1961 5, VUNCANNQN 2,974,763

PIVOTED VENT TYPE WINDOW AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1955 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I "la... o c in L Fig 4 I N VEN TOR. 5174/ l mz awww s. H. VUNCANNON 2,974,763

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ljmvw 6 March 14, 1961 PIVOTED VENT TYPE WINDOW AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1955 March 1961 s. H. VU-NCANNON PIVOTED VENT TYPE WINDOW AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIMIIIII/l United States Patent 'PIVOTED VENT TYPE WINDOW AND OPERATHIG MECHANISM THEREFOR Sam H. Vun'canuon, 700 Jeronimo Drive, Coral Gables, Fla.

Filed July 20, 1955, Ser. No. 523,330

13 Claims. (Cl. 189-62) The present invention relates to window operating mechanisms and more particularly to compact, nonporous and dense metal window operator structures dimensioned to be wholly concealed within the window .framing.

Awning or jalousie type windows heretofore manufactured have employed geared operator mechanisms for simultaneously opening and closing the plural vents or" such windows. For the most part such mechanisms have been housed in light cast or sheet metal housings removably secured to the inner face of the window framing or in a wall space provided below the sill of the window structure because of the relatively large dimensions employed to withstand the operational stresses encountered in the use of such mechanisms. While previous attempts have been made to make the prior art cast and sheet metal window operators sulficiently small and compact to be housed in the vertical side rails of the window framing for ready access for servicing and replacement, it has been found that the housings heretofore proposed, when made sufficiently small and compact, have been wholly lacking in strength to Withstand the operational forces due to their structural design and the nature of the casting process.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of the present invention to provide a small compact operating mechanism having a metal housing designed and dimensioned to be freely received and concealed in the vertical side rails of awning and jalousie type window framing for ready removal and servicing.

It is still another important object of this invention to provide an awning or jalousie type window operator having an extruded or high pressure die cast metal housing which can be produced at small cost and with a minimum of machining operations.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel jalousic type window operator having an extruded or high pressure die cast housing of general U-shape configuration in cross-section in which the opposite ends are closed, upon assembly in the side rails of the window framing, by the framing side Walls and to mount the vertically movable rack bar between the housing side walls at one end so as to be backed by the adjacent side rail framing wall structure.

Still another object of the present invention resides in providing awning or jalousie type window operators made up of an extruded or high pressure die cast metal housing of generally U-shaped configuration in crosssection which may be adapted for supporting the operator gear elements by simple drilling operations.

Still further objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a jalousie type window operator made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of a continuous strip illustrating the manner in which the main 2,974,763 Patented Mar. 14, 19,61

housing structure of the jalousie operator of Figure 1 is made therefrom;

Figure 3 is an end view of the jalousie operator shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the left end of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the jalousie operator mechanism of Figure l with the near side wall broken away in part to better illustrate the manner in which the worm gear shaft is supported bythe housing;

Figure 5 is a View of the jalousie operator mounted in a side rail when viewed from the peripheral exposed edge of the window framing with certain portions of the side rail broken away and sectioned to illustrate the manner in which the operator mechanism of the present invention is mounted in the framing of the jalousie window;

Figure 6 is a view looking into the left hand side of the framing member of Figure 5 with the inner face wall of the side r-ail broken away to further illustrate how the operating mechanism of the present invention cooperates with the jalousie Window framing of Figure 5;

Figure 7, is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a fragment of a continuous strip from which the main housing member of an awning type window operator is made;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an awning window operator made in accordance with this invention with certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating the manner in which the awning type window operator of the present invention cooperates with the awning window framing;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 5 further illustrating the manner in which the operator of Figure 9 cooperates with the framing members of an awning type window; and

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 8 illustrating a preferred form of die cast housing.

With continued reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are employed throughout to indicate the same parts, numeral 1 designates generally the operator housing formed by a cut-oil length of a continuous metal form produced by a continuous extrusion process or high pressure die casting employing pressure forces of the order of several hundred tons per square inch in the form of long strips best shown in Figures 2 and 7 or by individual castings. As clearly appears from these figures a long extruded or high pressure die cast form of generally U-shaped configuration in cross-section is cut along a line C to provide a plurality of housing element 1. These strips provide a pair of transversely spaced wall portions 2 joined along one edge by a bridge portion 3 of substantial depth having opposed longitudinally extending grooves 4 in its opposite faces. Any suitable non-corrosive material, such as aluminum or zinc, may be used to form a'housing strip of minimum porosity and maximum density to provide an ultimate tensile strength per unit area of cross-section of the metal. 'Ihese strips, due to the decreased porosity also substantially increase the resistance to deterioration by corrosive action. In actual practice it has been found that an extruded or high pressure die cast strip of the general shape disclosed in Figures 2 and 7 will have adequate strength when assembled in the window framing in the manner hereinafter pointed out to properly withstand the mechanical stresses encountered in jalousie and awning window operators due to the one piece dense construction unobtainable either in the previously proposed cast or stamped housing structures of the prior art.

Use of such extruded or high pressure die cast strips, in addition to the superior strength per unit area and high resistance to deterioration, also reduces to a minimum the machining necessary to adapt it for awning window or jalousie window operator usage. In this connection, the opposed grooves 4 are formed by the forming process and dimensioned to provide a recess for receiving the heads of the necessary securing screws used to secure the operator to the window framing. While any suitable dimensions may be employed, typical examples produced by the extrusion process in accordance with this invention and illustrated and described in detail hereafter provide grooves .110 inch deep and .320 inch in width. These grooves have their outer edges .125 inch inwardly from the exposed face of bridge 3 in both the awning window and jalousie window housings. These extruded grooves, it will be appreciated, eliminate the necessity of countersinking the housing to enable a flush head attaching screw construction in the final assembly. It will be appreciated, however, that grooves 4 may be omitted if desired and themajor advantages of the extruded housing, namely, provision of a small compact housing capable of withstanding the operating stresses and yet be concealed in the framing of the window may be obtained.

Referring for the moment first to Figures 1 through 7 illustrating a preferred form of jalousie window operator, housing 1 comprises a length of the extruded form meas uring 1.750 inches from end to end. The total width of the strip from edge to edge is 2.500 inches, the total thickness is .500 inch, the spacing between the walls is .258 inch and the inner face of the bridge 3 is formed as a half circle having a radius of .127 inch using a center .688 inch from the outer edge face of the bridge 3. A housing formed with these dimensions is peculiarly adapted for use with a jalousie window framing made by the Vun Russ Company, Inc. of Hialeah, Florida and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. It will be appreciated that suitable variations in dimensions may be resorted to for operator housings for other types of jalousie framing.

The first step in completing the operator mechanism of Figures 1 through 7 using the housing 1, just described, is to slot the bridge 3 at one end as at 5 for receiving the jalousie operator rack bar 6. Next the housing is drilled inwardly from the opposite end in the area of groove 4 to provide hold down screw opening 7. Thereafter the side walls 2 adjacent slot 5 are drilled in vertically spaced relationship to provide pin holes for receiving respective securing pins 9 adapted to rest in suitably formed notches provided in an annular bearing block 10 journalling the inner end of a worm shaft 11. Shaft 11 has an integrally formed worm pinion 12 lying between the walls 2 of housing 1 and a free end projecting beyond the opposite end of housing 1 to receive an operating crank (not shown). Worm shaft 11 inwardly of its projecting end is provided with a second annular bearing block 13 which cooperates with block 10 to journal shaft 11 for rotation in spaced relation to walls 2 and bridge 3. blocks 10 and 13 rest in the bottom of the arcuate wall connecting the spaced side walls 2 of housing 1. As a result of pins 9 shaft 11 and its bearings are securely fastened in place with respect to housing 1.

Housing 1 in vertically spaced relation above shaft 11 and in a plane lying transversely of the shaft axis and midway between the bearing blocks 10 and 12 is provided with a drilled opening extending clear through the spaced side walls and providing journal sockets for the opposite ends of a worm gear journal shaft 14. Shaft 14 spans the space between side walls 2 and provides a stationary spindle journalling the driven worm gear 15. To assure the desired operation of gear 15 and shaft 14, it is preferred that the shaft 14 have a pressed fit in side walls 2 or be otherwise non-rotatably secured thereto and that the worm gear 15 be journalled thereon for rotation though a self lubricating nylon or like bearing' bushing 16 (Figure 4). Bearing blocks. 10 and 13 are, also preferably formed' of self-lubricating nylon not only to mini- As clearly seen from Figure 4 bearingmize friction but to isolate the relatively movable metal parts one from the other to prevent the likelihood of electrolytic corrosive action and seizing resulting therefrom instant to moisture forming on or reaching the parts as a result of the elements or temperature changes. For this same reason, nylon washers 17 are preferably dis posed on the opposite sides of gear 15 to retain the gear in spaced relation to side walls 2.

Referring to rack bar 6 and more particularly to the showing thereof in Figure 4, it will be noted that the rack bar slides freely through the slot 5 and between the walls 2. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the rack bar is actually unattached to the housing mechanically and merely meshingly engages the teeth of gear 15. This separable relationship of the rack bar and other elements of the operator is made possible in the present invention because of the manner of cooperation of the operator with the jalousie window framing presently to be described. The rack bar 6, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, is provided at its upper end with a through opening 18 adapting rack bar 6 for pivotal connection by pin 20 to the operating link 19 of the jalousie linkage to be hereinafter briefly described.

Referring to Figures 3 and 6 of the present invention, it will be noted that the rack bar teeth 21 slope downwardly from left to right and that the worm gear 15 has teeth that slope correspondingly. As a result of this tooth relationship the reactance forces as the worm shaft is turned clockwise in Figure 3 to raise rack bar 6 and its connected window vents act upwardly on rack bar gear teeth 21 tending to force the rack bar to the right as seen in Figures 5 and 6 against the framing wall 23 and the right hand housing side wall 2. As a consequence, the notched end of housing 1 is crowded against the wall permitting a single hold down screw 25 with its head received in the appropriate groove 4 to normally suffice to retain the operator mechanism operatively in place in the framing. While it will be appreciated that gear 15 will be moving in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, the weight of the vents and their supporting structure will be acting to aid the closing movements so that the reactance forces are negligible. For this reason, no appreciable tendency to force the notched end of the housing 1 away from the window framing will be experienced. Howeveryif desired a further hold down screw opening 26 (Figures 3 and 4) may be provided'in the walls 2 of housing 1 adjacent the upper ends thereof for receiving hold down screw 27 (Figures 5 and 6) to effectively overcome any disassociating tendency.

In addition, the present invention preferably contemplates employment of a double lead pinion and gear and rack arrangement in this unit so as to materially decrease the lead angle at which back pressure is applied through the gear drive when the operator is in locked or fully closed position. By this means creep back prevalent in most jalousie operators heretofore marketed is readily avoided and more rapid operation is assured.

Turning for the moment to Figures 5 to 7 the jalousie framing illustrated comprise a vertically disposed side rail 28 of generally channel shaped configuration, the opposite said walls 23 and 29 of which define the window opening and terminate in right angularly directed flanges 31 and 3-2. Flange 32 as shown in Figure 7 is of substantial width and is provided with an undercut groove receiving a flexible weather strip 33. Flange 32 inwardly of weather stripping 33 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced pivot pins 34 pivotally mounting end frame elements 35 for carrying the glass or other suitable jalousie vents (not shown).

Base wall 24 of side rail 28 is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 37 adapted to reinforce the base wall structurally and is provided with relatively inwardly flanged mounting walls 38 and 39 adapted to. receive between them the wall structure surrounding the window frame. Housing 1 of the operator mechanism fits endwise between walls 23 and 29 with one of its side walls 2 in abutting relation to frame wall 24 as clearly shown in Figures 5-7. Securing screws 25 and 27 (Figure 6) thread into wall 24 to secure the operator in fixed relation to the side rail 28. The jalousie linkage is completed by a runner bar 42 of generally channel shaped configuration drilled at spaced intervals along its length to receive pivot pins 43 carried in L-shaped leg extension 44 of the jalousie end frame elements 35 to connect the end frame elements together for unitary swinging movement around their respective pivot pins 34. The upper end of operator link 19 is pivotally connected to runner bar 42 by means of a pivot pin 45 so that upon up and down reciprocating movement of rack bar 6 the runner bar will be moved upwardly and to the right or downwardly and to the left to swing the jalousie end frame elements 35 with their mounted vents to open and close the window opening in a well known manner.

In order to protect the housing from entrance of dust and dirt through the open top, the present invention provides a dust cap 49 in the form of a strip of metal laterally dimensioned to snugly fit between the spaced side walls 2 and having a down turned end 51 to abuttingly engage the framing wall 29 and a gently curving upturned end 52 disposed in slightly spaced relation the end faces of teeth 21 of rack bar 6. It has been found in practice that a snug fit between dust cover 49 and the side walls is sufficient to retain the dust cap in place when the upper securing screw 27 is used to draw the free ends of walls 2 toward each other.

The awning operator of the present invention comprises a housing 1 (Figure 8) cut from a similar U-shaped, grooved extrusion strip which is machined as hereinafter described and inverted for use as a housing. While any desired dimensions may be adopted for the strip and housing the illustrated embodiment is designed for use with a window assembly like that shown in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 515,881, filed June 16, 1955 and entitled Window Assembly. Forthis particular window structure, the U-shaped strip would be produced as a continuous extrusion .625 inch in cross-sectional thickness, 2.125 inches in height with the upstanding spaced walls 2 spaced .208 inch apart. The upper wall of bridge 3 is concaved and formed on a radius of .104 inch around a center spaced .812 inch from the exposed face of bridge 3.

As heretofore pointed out the grooves 4 are formed identically to the grooves of the jalousie housing 1 previously described and the strip is cut to the desired length, which in this case is 1.875 inches.

The first step in completing the operator mechanism of Figures 9 through 11 using the housing 1, just described, is to notch the opposite ends as indicated at 51 along the opposite side faces and across both edges to a depth of .065 inch over a width of .250 inch to adapt the housing to form a key for slidingly fitting in the keyway formed by the opposed inwardly directed flange portions 52 formed inwardly of the peripheral face of the vertical side rails 53 and the corresponding inwardly directed opposed flanges 54 of the horizontally disposed sill framing element 55. It will be appreciated that notching of the ends as just described may be unnecessary where the window framing elements are formed differently from the specific embodiment herein disclosed and will be initially produced in the forming operation with high pressure die cast.

Next the housing 1 is drilled as indicated at 56 (Figure 9) in the area of groove 4 and inwardly from one end thereof to provide a through opening for receiving a securing screw 57 (Figures and 11) for attaching the housing to the framing. As clearly seen in Figure 10, screw 57 threads through the corner assembly bracket 58 and into the wall 59 of the side rail element 53.

Adjacent opening 56 and outwardly therefrom toward the near end of the housing 1 the walls 2 are suitably drilled to provide pin holes in vertically spaced relation to receive securing pins 61 similar to the securing pins 9 previously described. These pins 61, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10, straddle the space between the two side walls 2 and extend through suitable notches formed in a bearing block 62 disposed in a drilled bore 63 extending from end to end of housing 1 tangent to the concave wall of bridge portion 3. This bearing block 62 is adapted to journallingly support the reduced inner end 64 of 'a worm shaft 65 through a nylon or Teflon bushing having self lubricating properties as heretofore pointed out in connection with the jalousie operator mechanism. Shaft 65 in axially spaced relation to bearing block 62 is provided with a second bearing block 66 in the form of a sleeve containing a similar nylon or Teflon bushing (not shown) for journalling the opposite protruding end of the worm shaft in the bore 63. Shaft 65 between the two bearing blocks has a worm pinion 67 integrally formed thereon for a purpose to be presently pointed out.

The spaced side walls 2 of housing 1 are then drilled at a point inwardly from their free edges in a plane offset towards the reduced end of worm shaft 63 as indicated at 68 (Figures 10 and 11) to form annular bores which are respectively fitted with self lubricating nylon or Teflon bushings 69 having non-circular openings 70 therein. Bushings 69 are adapted to non-rotatably receive a mating non-circular torque shaft 71 extending laterally across the sill member of the window framing with one end 72 protruding slightly beyond one of the side walls 2 of housing 1 to be disposed in the groove formed between the peripheral wall of the frame member 53 and the opposedside rail flanges 52. The portion of torque shaft 71 spanning the space between side walls 2 non-rotatably receives a gear 73. A pair of normally stationary spacer washers 74 composed of self lubricating nylon or Teflon are disposed between the side faces of gear segment 73 and the side walls 2 to isolate the relatively rotatable parts. As clearly seen in Figures 9 and 11 gear segment 73 meshingly engages the worm pinion 67 of shaft 65 so as to be rotated back and forth upon rotation of shaft 65 in alternate closing and opening direction. Torque shaft 71 in outwardly spaced relation to one of the walls 2 of housing 1 non-rotatably carries torque transfer arms 76 the outer free ends of which are pivotally connected as indicated at 77 to an upwardly extend ing pitman link 78. Pitman link 78 is in turn journalled at its upper end to an axially movable slide bar 79 relatively slidingly supported in side rails 53 and carrying hinge links 81 suitably pivoted to the end frame members of the awning window vents (not shown).

It will be appreciated that upon rotation of shaft 65 by any suitable crank arm or wheel (not shown) the slide bar will be bodily raised and lowered to carry the fastened end of hinge links 81 and up and down with it to effect closing and opening movement of the window vents in a manner clearly disclosed in the above mentioned copending application and well known to those in the art.

In fully closed position of the operator mechanism torque transfer arms 76 will be swung inwardly within the confines of the inner and outer faces of side rails 53 in position above the operator mechanism so as to be completely hidden from view. The open end of housing 1 directly below the exposed end of bearing block 62 is preferably closed by a generally L-shaped cover plate 83 laterally dimensioned to snugly fit between the spaced side walls 2 soas to preven ingress of dirt, dust and the elements that might otherwise enter through the open end when the window vents are in their open position.

In event resort is made to die casting either housing of this application, it is contemplated that the dust covers will be made an integral part of the casting as clearly shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. As there illustrated, the open edge of the U-shaped housing 1 and the end opposite that through which shaft 11 or 65 extends in spanned by L-shaped closure wall 830 connecting the '7 spaced walls 2. The end wall leg of wall 83a preferably extends completely down to bridge portion 3 while the other leg terminates short of the other end of the housing opposite notched out portion 5 of bridge 3 to adapt the housing to receive rack bar 6 if a jalousie operator is to be produced.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a jalousie window operator and an awning operator of unusual compactness having a unitary housing of high structural strength and generally similar construction that may be manufactured at minimum expense and operator mechanisms that may be readily concealed in the normal framing structure provided for either a jalousie window or an awning type window.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrtive and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An operating mechanism for swinging vent type windows having hollow framing defining a window opening and providing respective vertically extending oppositely facing grooves formed by respective vertical planar side frame Walls lying between spaced parallel right angularly related groove side Walls and a frame housed actuating linkage comprising a housing structurally distinct from said framing in the form of a hollow body having a planar side wall dimensioned longitudinally to fit against one of said vertical planar side frame walls of the hollow framing, vertical planar surfaces adjacent its opposite ends extending perpendicular to said planar side wall to define therewith a key interfitting between said spaced parallel groove side walls to prevent relative rotation therebetween and having at least one closed horizontally extending edge; a worm pinion shaft paralleling the side Walls of said housing journalled between said housing side walls against relative axial movement along the closed edge of said housing with one end projecting beyond one end of said housing; worm gear means journalled for rotation on an axis perpendicular to and spanning the space between said side walls and meshingly engaging said worm pinion shaft on the side thereof remote from said closed housing edge; and motion translating means operatively engaging said Worm gear means and adapted to translate rotational movement of said worm gear into linear movement for shifting said actuating linkage to open and close said swinging vents.

2. The operating mechanism of claim 1 wherein said translating means comprises a rack bar having worm teeth on one face engaging said worm gear means and extending inwardly from one end toward the other end, said rack bar being disposed for relative axial movement between the housing side walls at one end thereof; and a pitman arm pivotally connected to the other end of said rack bar and to said actuating linkage.

3. The operating mechanism of claim 1 wherein said translating means comprises a torque shaft non-rotatably secured to said worm gear and protruding from a side face thereof and through a wall of said housing, a torque shaft transfer arm carried by said torque shaft and a pitman arm pivotally connected to said transfer arm and to said actuating linkage.

4. An awning or jalousie vent type window comprising a window opening defining frame framed by parallel vertical side members interconnected at the top and bottom thereof respectively by parallel header and sill members,

members, said side members each having a longitudinally extending web portion perpendicular to the plane of the Window opening and a longitudinally extending flange extending perpendicular to the web portion toward the center of said window opening at the side of the Web portion adjacent the interior side of the window, an actuating linkage connected to each of said plurality of vents and disposed on at least one of said side member web portions behind the associated flange and mounted for relative bodily endwise movement relative to said side member: an operator mechanism mounted on said one side member and comprising housing means structurally distinct from said frame and of generally hollow configuration in internal cross-section and defining a gear and pinion well and dimensioned longitudinally to fit between the flange of said one side member and the opposite edge of said one side member web portion; a worm pinion shaft paralleling the opposed longitudinally extending side walls of said well and journalled between said opposed side Walls against relative axial movement longitudinally of said housing with one end protruding beyond an end of said housing; Worm gear means in said wall journalled for rotation on an axis spanning the space between said opposed side walls and meshingly engaging said worm pinion shaft; and motion translating means operatively engaging said worm gear means for translating rotational movement of said worm gear means into linear movement for shifting said actuating linkage to open and close said vents, said housing and said one side member web having interfitting key and keyway means rigidly restraining said housing from rotational movement relative to said one side member under the load imposed thereon by said vents through said linkage.

5. As an article of manufacture a window operating mechanism comprising housing means of generally hollow configuration in internal cross-section and defining a gear and pinion well; a worm shaft; spaced journals mounting said worm shaft on opposed longitudinal walls of said well adjacent a wall joining said spaced walls; right angularly disposed shaft means mounted in said opposed longitudinal walls and spanning the space therebetween; a worm gear mounted on said right angularly disposed shaft and meshingly engaging said worm shaft; means accessible from outside of said housing adapting said worm gear to be connected to a motion translating means for converting rotational movement of said worm gear into linear movement; and means securing said Worm shaft against axial movement relative to said housing, said housing means embodying means providing access to the interior of said housing well through a common access opening through which said worm shaft and worm gear may be inserted into and removed from their meshed operative positions in said housing well, said housing having a planar exterior side wall surface perpendicular to the Worm gear rotation axis and spaced parallel exterior surfaces perpendicular to and intersect ing said exterior side wall surface to define therewith a key interfitting within a complementary keyway on a window frame to prevent rotation between said housing and such a window frame.

6. The window operating mechanism of claim 5 wherein said motion translating means comprises means nonrotatably connecting said right angularly disposed shaft and said worm gear and a transfer arm non-rotatably connected to said right angularly disposed shaft in axially spaced relation to said worm gear and adjacent an outer face of one of said spaced walls.

7. The window operating mechanism of claim 5 wherein said motion translating means comprises a rack bar slidingly disposed between said spaced housin'g walls at one end thereof for bodily movement generally normal to said Worm shaft and having its rack teeth meshingly engaging said Worm gear so as to be bodily moved thereby upon rotation of said worm shaft.

8. The window operating mechanism of claim 7 wherein the rack teeth of said rack bar slope in a direction to apply the reaction forces in. window opening operation of said mechanism to a selected side wall of said housing whereby upon mounting said operating mechanism on a window frame side rail with said side wall against a face of said side rail the reaction forces will tend to press said operating mechanism against side rail.

9. In a window assembly, a frame defining a window opening and formed of spaced parallel extruded metal side members rigidly interconnected by extruded metal header and sill members, said side members each having a longitudinally extending web portion perpendicular to the plane of the window opening and coplanar longitudinally extending flange portions at the interior side of the frame, a plurality of vents pivoted between said side member web portions, a generally rectangular housed worm-worm wheel operator mechanism mounted on the Web portion of one of said side members adjacent said sill member, said housing being structurally distinct from the window frame and having a first exterior side wall in surface to surface abutment with the surface of said one side member web portion and an opposed parallel exterior side wall spaced from said first exterior side wall a dis tance no greater than the depth of said one side member flange portion whereby said operator housing is concealed by said one side member flange portion, and an operating linkage on said one side member interconnecting said operator mechnaism to each of said vents.

10. In a framed pivoted vent type window, means fixed relative to the frame defining a longitudinally extending open-ended channel having substantially parallel side Walls parallel to and one of which is in abutment with a side wall of the window frame and an interconnecting back wall, extending perpendicular to said frame side wall, a rack of generally rectangular cross-section slidably received in and guided for longitudinal sliding movement by the walls of said channel with its teeth facing the open side of said channel, a worm wheel journalled for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the path of movement of said rack and in constant mesh with the teeth thereof through the open side of said channel, the meshing teeth of said rack and of said worm wheel being angularly inclined relative to the path of rack movement so that both said rack and said worm wheel are laterally biased toward said frame side wall, a worm journalled for rotation in constant mesh with said worm wheel and having a crank receiving end portion at its end remote from said rack, and housing means structurally distinct from the frame of said window and coacting with said channel defining means to enclose said worm and worm wheel and having an aperture through which said worm end portion projects.

11. The combination defined in claim wherein said rack includes means at one end thereof defining a connection eye for pivotal connection to a vent control link.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said rack, said channel defining means and said worm are constructed to permit operative mounting of said rack within said channel with said eye opening defining means at either end of said channel.

13. In a window assembly, a frame defining a window opening and formed of spaced parallel extruded metal side members rigidly interconnected by extruded metal header and sill members, said side members each having a longitudinally extending web portion perpendicular to the plane of the window opening and coplanar longitudinally extending flange portions at the interior side of the frame, a plurality of vents pivoted between said side member web portions, a generally rectangular housed Worm wheel operator mechanism mounted on the web portion of one of said side members adjacent said sill member, said housing being structurally distinct from the window frame and having a first exterior side Wall in surface to surface abutment with the surface of said one side member web portion and an opposed parallel exterior side wall spaced from said first exterior side wall a distance no greater than the depth of said one side member flange portion whereby said operator housing is concealed by said one side member flange portion, and an operating linkage on said one side member interconnecting said operator mechanism to each of said vents, said one side member web portion and the housing of said operator mechanism embodying interfitting key and keyway means extending longitudinally of said one side member to absorb rotation producing torque loads imposed on the housing of said operator mechanism and prevent rotation thereof relative to said one side member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,597 Hughes May 29, 1923 1,907,897 Swegles May 9, 1933 2,201,670 Kraus May 21, 1940 2,617,156 McMurray Nov. 11, 1952 2,690,336 Belmont Sept. 28, 1954 2,694,238 Jones Nov. 16, 1954 2,709,582 Chapman May 31, 1955 2,829,744 OBrien Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,446 Great Britain May 9, 1910 7,100 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1913 112,763 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1918 of 1917 

